Allen hopes barber skills are a cut above

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Barber Robert Allen, a lifelong Northbrook resident, is at work at Boris' Barber Shop in Highland Park. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 17, 2012 10:13AM

St. Patrick’s Day is an important time for Northbrook’s Rob Allen, that’s right around when his firstborn son arrives.

“Our baby is due very soon on March 20th,” reports an excited Allen, a Highland Park barber and lifelong Northbrook resident.

He and Brittani Cimaszewski hope to raise their family in Northbrook.

“We can’t wait for him to be born,” gushes Allen.

“Brittani’s mom is doing the baby’s room right now (in Dr. Seuss) and she is a wonderful artist.”

Then again — Rob Allen, a master griller locally famous for his culinary arts — is equally a master barber.

Customers frequenting Boris’ Barber Shop in Highland Park on Skokie Boulevard request Allen, who was influenced by one of Northbrook’s best hair stylists — his mother Mary Allen, who died Sept. 3, 2009.

“I miss her very much but I know she is watching over us.” he said. “My mother was a great person and did a lot for other people. She was very supportive and always wanted what was best for me.”

Mary Allen, who maintained a Kiest Avenue home beauty salon had a loyal following.

“I don’t think she (his mother) knew I was going to become a barber but she is a very big inspiration for me,” said Mary Allen’s son.

“I have her to thank for the person I am growing to be.

“I love to cut hair, it makes me feel like I am doing something right and when my clients compliment me on my job I feel proud to be a barber.

Rob Allen is also grateful for his father Jim Allen, a Northbrook handyman who is famous for tooling around town in his Glenbrook North High School Spartans-colored green van, which features fun flame decals.

The decals were a 2010 Christmas gift from his children.

“I love the van,” said Rob Allen. “It has become an icon around town and now that it has flames, it has become more noticeable.

“My dad wants more flames on it, he said the more the better.”

Rob has a sister Eileen, an older brother Jim and younger brother Pete, 15, a GBN freshman.

“I enjoy cooking a lot, breakfast is what I am best at and the household looks forward to eating what I make,” said Allen. “I also like to help with the GBN sports department, that was a big part of my high school time and I love to pass on my knowledge to the younger kids.”

Being a dad is the best way to pass knowledge from father to son. But if it weren’t for the Chicago Blackhawks, the future parents might not have ever met.

“Brittani is from Gainesville Florida and moved here about three years ago with her family,” said Allen.

“We met at the 2010 Blackhawks rally in downtown Chicago after they won the Stanley Cup.

“We have them to thank for us ending up together, had they not won we probably would not have ended up together.”

Allen studied education for two years at Kenosha’s Carthage College, but when his mother died, his choice became a cut above other careers.

“After my mom passed, I realized that I was in school for the wrong thing but I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do,” said Allen.

“My sister (Eileen, a hairdresser) and Brittani really helped me make the choice to go to barber school. It was leap of faith, but I ended up really loving cutting hair.” he said.

“My mom inspired me to do what I want and I know she would be supporting me if she were here.”

Allen’s favorite haircut is the “Bieber cut” (Justin Bieber), “but personally I like to just grow out my hair then shave it all off when I can’t deal with it anymore,” said Allen.

Other trends in men’s hairstyling include “longer hair for kids and teenagers; fauxhawk, spiked up all over or in the front, part to the side or slicked back for men.”

The barber in Allen looks forward to baby’s first haircut, right?

“Becoming a better barber and to be a great father and husband are what my goals are,” said Allen.

“As long as I am happy and I can keep my family happy, that is all I can ask for.”

Rob Allen would also like to shout out to his dad.

“He (Jim Allen) is a great man who does whatever he can to help others succeed while also teaching his kids how to be better people in the process,” said his son. “He is a great inspiration to me to become a great parent, husband and self motivated worker,” said Jim’s son.

Come see Rob Allen at Boris’ Barber Shop at 195 Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park. Call 847-831-8830. Visit www.borisbarbershop.com